Miamba's 17 Sparks Saint Joseph 62-53 OT Win, Claims First 4A Sectional

South Bend Saint Joseph beat South Bend Riley 62-53 in overtime at The Cave at Mishawaka High School on March 7, 2026, capturing the Huskies' first 4A sectional title since moving up from Class 3A after the 2025 state championship. Peyton Miamba led Saint Joseph with 17 points, and the Huskies advance to the regional round.

Riley opened the fourth quarter in control when junior Da’Kori Parker made an acrobatic layup with 6:22 remaining to put the Wildcats ahead 50-43. That basket was Riley’s final field goal of regulation, and the Wildcats managed a lead until Saint Joseph rallied in the final minute. Greatnews Life reported the Huskies tied the game after being down four with 35 seconds to go, and Saint Joseph forced overtime behind a late surge.

Ryder Place, who did not score until the fourth quarter, buried two critical 3-pointers in the fourth to help force overtime. Elijah King added 12 points for the Huskies, while Riley got 14 from Parker and 12 from Tree Johnson. Sources do not list Place’s final point total for the sectional final, but his fourth-quarter shooting and late-game defense were decisive.

Overtime belonged to Saint Joseph’s defense and late-game poise. Greatnews Life noted Riley managed just two points in the extra session, while the South Bend Tribune recorded Parker’s lone overtime layup as the Wildcats’ second-to-last field goal of the night. With the Huskies leading 59-53 and 24 seconds remaining, Place made a steal that effectively ended the game. “I was ready to cut the net right then and there,” Place said. “I knew as soon as I got that steal that I was going to hit both free throws and we were going to win the game.”

Saint Joseph’s late run followed a sustained defensive plan. Head coach Eric Gaff credited an improved full-court press, saying the Huskies work on the press for 90 minutes during each practice, a tactic that frustrated Riley down the stretch. Riley coach Alex Daniel described the physical battle: “We’re fighting through traps and hands and teeth and shoes and everything else,” and added, “We just ran out of some juice at the end.”

Nick Shrewsberry, the senior Notre Dame commit and team veteran, captured the locker-room mood: “We fought for 16 minutes. We are a close group and love each other.” Saint Joseph reached the sectional final after an 87-63 semifinal win over Adams; Riley advanced via a 58-47 semifinal victory over Penn. The teams had met in the regular season on January 9, when Saint Joseph won 70-58.

The Huskies, defending 3A state champions who made the jump to 4A this season, will travel on to the regional round after the signature 62-53 overtime victory that gave Saint Joseph its first 4A sectional crown.